Mechanically stabilized earth (mse) retaining wall employing round rods with spaced pullout inhibiting structures

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall that employ, for reinforcement, round rods with spaced pullout inhibiting structures (for example, round planar disks) are disclosed. The MSE retaining wall has at least one concrete panel. The panel has a generally planar body with a frontside, a backside, and a surrounding peripheral edge. The MSE retaining wall has at least one round, steel rod, the rod having a generally cylindrical elongated body with first and second ends. The first end is attached to the panel, and the elongated body and second end reside within backfill soil against the backside of the panel. The MSE retaining wall further includes at least one steel, pullout inhibiting structure residing along the elongated body of the rod. The pullout inhibiting structure has a body with a surface region that spans in a transverse radial direction from the elongated body of the rod. The rod passes through the body of the pullout inhibiting structure.

CLAIM OF PRIORTY

The present application claims priority to and the benefit ofprovisional application No. 63/135,086, filed Jan. 8, 2021, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to pending application Ser. No. ______,filed on even date herewith, titled “MECHANICALLY STABILIZED EARTH (MSE)RETAINING WALL EMPLOYING GEOSYNTHETIC STRIP WITH PLASTIC PIPE AROUNDSTEEL ROD,” with attorney docket no. 51813-2030, by the same inventorherein, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to modular earth retainingwalls, and more particularly, to mechanically stabilized earth (MSE)retaining walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modular earth retaining walls with concrete panels are commonly used forarchitectural and site development applications. Such walls aresubjected to very high pressures exerted by lateral movements of thesoil, temperature and shrinkage effects, and seismic loads.

In many commercial applications, for example, along or supportinghighways, etc., each concrete panel can weigh between two and fivethousand pounds and have a front elevational size of about eight feet inwidth by about five feet four inches in height.

Oftentimes, the earth retaining walls of this type are reinforced. Morespecifically, a conventional mechanically stabilized earth (MSE)retaining wall with steel reinforcement is typically reinforced withsteel strips or welded wire meshes that extends backward, orperpendicular, from the rear of a concrete panel to reinforce thebackfill soil.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides various embodiments of a mechanicallystabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall that employ, for reinforcement,round rods with spaced pullout inhibiting structures (e.g., round planardisks).

One embodiment of the MSE retaining wall of the present disclosures,among others, can be generally summarized as follows. The MSE retainingwall has at least one concrete panel, the panel having a generallyplanar body with a frontside, a backside, and a surrounding peripheraledge. The MSE retaining wall has at least one round, steel rod, the rodhaving a generally cylindrical elongated body with first and secondends. The first end is attached to the panel, and the elongated body andsecond end reside within backfill soil against the backside of thepanel. The MSE retaining wall further includes at least one steel,pullout inhibiting structure residing along the elongated body of therod. The pullout inhibiting structure has a body with a surface regionthat spans in a transverse radial direction from the elongated body ofthe rod. The rod passes through the body of the pullout inhibitingstructure.

Another embodiment of the MSE retaining wall of the present disclosure,among others, can be summarized as follows. 12. The MSE retaining wallhas a plurality of concrete panels, each panel having a generally planarbody with a frontside, a backside, and a surrounding peripheral edge.The MSE retaining wall has a plurality of generally round steel rods.Each rod has a generally cylindrical elongated body with first andsecond ends. Each rod is curved near the first end and extends through asteel connector loop extending from the back side of the concrete panel.The first end is secured to the connector loop by a nut that is threadedon the first end. The elongated body and second end reside withinbackfill soil adjacent to the backside of the concrete panel. The MSEretaining wall has at least one steel, generally planar, pulloutinhibiting structure residing along the elongated body of the rod. Thepullout inhibiting structure has a generally planar body with afrontside, a backside, and a surrounding peripheral edge. The rod passesthrough a central part of the body of the planar structure.

Other embodiments, apparatus, systems, methods, features, and advantagesof the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skillin the art upon examination of the following drawings and detaileddescription. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods,features, and advantages be included within this description, be withinthe scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by theaccompanying claims. In addition, all optional and preferred featuresand modifications of the described embodiments are usable in all aspectsof the disclosure taught herein. Furthermore, the individual features ofthe dependent claims, as well as all optional and preferred features andmodifications of the described embodiments are combinable andinterchangeable with one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. The components in the drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is pullout testing report that provides pullout results of theearth reinforcement rod of the present invention spacing the disks at 16inches on center.

FIG. 2 is pullout testing report that provides pullout results of theearth reinforcement rod of the present invention spacing the disks at 12inches on center.

FIG. 3 is pullout testing report that provides pullout results of theearth spacing the disks at 24 inches on center which is equivalent inpullout resistance to the rectangular bar with raised ribs (RECa) ofprior art (FIG. 6) that demonstrates the superior performance.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an earth reinforcement rod in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 5A is a side cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of amechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall that employs theearth reinforcement rod of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5B is a side cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an MSEretaining wall that employs geosynthetic strips.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a flat rectangular bar with raised ribs(RECO) of the prior art that is employed in a prior art MSE retainingwall.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a flat rectangular bar with waves (SINEWALL) of the prior art that is employed in a prior art MSE retainingwall.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a welded wire ladder of the prior artthat is employed in a prior art MSE retaining wall.

FIG. 9A is a top view of a washer and nut that can be combined as aflange nut that is used to secure the earth reinforcement rod of FIG. 4to a connector loop of a concrete wall panel.

FIG. 9B is a side view of the washer and nut again which can be combinedas a flange nut of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A is a top view of the anti=shear collar that is used to assistwith securing the earth reinforcement rod of FIG. 4 to the connectorloop of a concrete wall panel.

FIG. 10B is a side cross-sectional view of the anti-shear collar of FIG.10A.

FIG. 11 is a side view and a top view of the earth reinforcement rod ofFIG. 4 connected to a connector loop of a concrete wall panel.

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of one embodiment, among many others,of the MSE retaining wall of FIG. 5A or FIG. 5B, showing anaesthetically pleasing top of wall design.

FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of an edging insert in a toppanel of the MSE retaining wall of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of the edging insert in a top panel ofthe MSE retaining wall of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15A is a front elevation view of a first embodiment T1 of the toppanel of the MSE retaining wall of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15B is a front elevation view of a second embodiment T2 of the toppanel of the MSE retaining wall of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15C is a front elevation view of a third embodiment T3 of the toppanel of the MSE retaining wall of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16A is a front elevation view of a prior art MSE retaining wallwith coping skirt at its top.

FIG. 16B is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the coping skirt ofFIG. 16A.

FIG. 16C is a side cross-sectional view of the MSE retaining wall withcoping skirt of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 17A is a first perspective view of a lifting tool in accordancewith the present disclosure that is designed to lift and move concretepanels (in this case, a top panel) associated with the MSE retainingwall of the present disclosure.

FIG. 17B is a second perspective view of the lifting tool in accordancewith the present disclosure that is designed to lift and move concretepanels (in this case, a panel that is not a top panel) associated withthe MSE retaining wall of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a first prior art embodiment of ageosynthetic loop connection, which is used instead of bars/ladder(FIGS. 6-8) in some embodiments of prior art MSE retaining walls.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a second prior art embodiment of ageosynthetic loop connection, which is used instead of bars/ladder(FIGS. 6-8) in some embodiments of prior art MSE retaining walls.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a third prior art embodiment of ageosynthetic loop connection, which is used instead of bars/ladders(FIGS. 6-8) in some embodiments of prior art MSE retaining walls.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a fourth prior art embodiment of ageosynthetic loop connection, which is used instead of bars/ladder(FIGS. 6-8) in some embodiments of prior art MSE retaining walls.

FIG. 22 is a perspective rear view (without earth soil) of a panel witha first embodiment of a geosynthetic loop connection of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 23A is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of thegeosynthetic loop connection of FIG. 22 to secure a geosynthetic stripto a panel.

FIG. 23B is a top view of the first embodiment of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24A is a cross-sectional view of a panel with a second embodimentof a geosynthetic loop connection of FIG. 22 to secure a singlegeosynthetic end of a geosynthetic strip to a panel.

FIG. 24B is a top view of the second embodiment of FIG. 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Earth Reinforcement Rod

An innovative soil reinforcement rod has been recently invented by theinventor for the earth retaining wall market. The new reinforcement rod1 uses a new geometry of reinforcement, shown in FIG. 4, to be used tocreate a more efficient use of materials, notably steel, in theconstruction of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining walls 2,shown in FIG. 5A. A conventional MSE retaining wall 2 with steelreinforcement is typically reinforced with steel strips 4 or welded wiremesh 6, shown in FIGS. 6-8, that extends perpendicular from the rear ofa concrete panel 14 face to reinforce the backfill soil 15. The newearth reinforcement rod 1 was created when realizing that, as shown inFIG. 4, a solid singular round bar 11 with circular disks 3 placed alongthe length of the solid round bar 11 would be a more efficient andeffective reinforcement. Capitalizing on passive earth pressure whenpulling the disks 3 through the backfill soil 15, the disks 3 provide ananchoring effect to optimize reinforcement friction or pulloutresistance along the reinforcement length, while minimizing the amountof required steel.

One of the main hindrances of using steel as reinforcement in backfillsoils 15 is the anticipated degradation of the actual steel, or steelloss due to corrosion. A flat bar 4 has the degradation across theentire exposed surface area making a rectangular shape not as efficientas a round shape. The surface area of steel is less when comparing around bar to a flat bar. For instance, a ½ inch round solid bar has 0.2square inch area and an exposed surface area of 1.57 inches. Acomparable rectangular shape that is 1 inch by 2/10 inch has the samesteel cross section area of 0.2 square inches but an exposed surfacearea of 2.4 inches. That equates to the round bar having 1.57/2.40, or65 percent (%), of the exposed surface area when compared to aconventional rectangular shape. As mentioned previously, retaining wallcontractors have also used welded wire mesh of round bars 6 asreinforcement to provide passive pressure by the perpendicular bars 7 toresist pullout or provide reinforcement. The round bars use steel moreefficiently as described above but are not very efficient or effectivewith respect to pullout because of the round shape of the steelperpendicular to the direction of stress 7 being pulled through the soil15 which does not create as much resistance and passive pressure becausethe soil 15 tends to move around the rounded edges 8. Using the earthreinforcement rod 1, the passive earth anchoring is created by the flatdisks 3 being pulled through the soil 15.

Research and extensive testing by the inventor have been used to realizeand confirm the optimum size 9 of disk 3 and spacing 10 along the solidbar length. Testing was performed by running numerous pullout tests in astandard pullout box containing soil by a reputable industry testinglaboratory that specializes in testing and evaluating earthreinforcement materials. The results were compared together, asillustrated in FIGS. 1-3, to determine trends and performance criteriain order to allow a fine tuning or optimization of disk size and spacingto create an ideal friction factor or pullout resistance for earthreinforcement. The results, when compared to traditional rectangularshaped steel reinforcement as well as welded wire fabric, found that thesolid bar with disks along the length to be more effective in performingsoil reinforcement with less steel. The tables in FIGS. 1-3 outline thetest results, clearly showing the optimization and efficiency achievedby the new earth reinforcement rod 1.

With reference to FIG. 4, a preferred embodiment of the earthreinforcement rod 1 is a solid round bar 5 that has pullout inhibitingridges (raised ribs) 11 and pullout inhibiting planar structures in theform of circular disks 3. The solid round bar 5 in the preferredembodiment is conventional rebar, which already has the ridges 11. Eachdisk 3 is preferably ½ inch inside diameter at a minimum or as great as¾ inch inside diameter, depending upon the required strength of thereinforcement and the retaining wall height. The disks 3 are welded ontothe round bar 5 typically as a washer welded to the solid rod. Theoptimal disk size was found to be a diameter 9 of 1⅜ inches (1.375inches) for a half inch diameter solid bar disk 3. The preferred spacingof the disks 3 was found by testing to be between 8 and 24 inches oncenter along the length of the solid bar 5.

In some embodiments, the reinforcement rod 1 can be employed without theridges 11 so that the outer surface of the bar 5 is uniformly round. Theraised ridges on the rebar rod help resist pullout of the tensile steelrod through the soil. However, the passive resistant disks provide themajority of the pullout resistance. Therefore, a smooth steel bar withno raised ridges but with the disks could be used as well, providing abig increase in pullout resistance. The small ridges are a benefit butnot required to achieve substantial increase in pullout resistance inreinforced soil applications due to the disks attached to the rod.

It should also be noted that the pullout inhibiting structures can beimplemented with different peripheral shapes (other than circular), forexample, square, polygonal, etc. Furthermore, the structure does notnecessarily need to be planar, just have a surface region that runstransverse, or at an angle (e.g., ninety degrees, etc.), to theelongated body of the rod 1.

MSE Connection

The recent invention of the new earth reinforcement rod 1 has thechallenge of how to connect the steel reinforcement rod 1 to the back ofthe concrete panel face 14 of FIG. 5A. Numerous conventional ways ofconnecting steel reinforcement exists in the MSE retaining wall market,but none with the ability to connect with a single reinforcement roundsteel rod 1. The inventor spent much time trying/retrying and alteringdifferent steel connectors, running full scale tensile testing in thelaboratory until one was discovered and realized, and proved the mosteffective. Many connections would work, but ease of installation,verification by an inspector in the field to confirm the complete andcorrect connection has been installed along with providing the strengthrequired of the connection is critical. The inventor discovered that ifan end portion of the reinforcement rod 12 is bent, or turned, andprovided with threads 16, the rod 1 can be inserted easily through aconnector loop 17 (FIG. 5A) of steel rod that is embedded in and extendsfrom the backside of the concrete panel. The connector loop 17 isattached to the panel during casting. A nut with washer is placed on thethreaded end to secure the rod 1 to the connector loop 17. To reduce thenumber of separate connecting parts, because a nut and washer would bothbe needed, a conventional flange nut 18 can be utilized, as shown inFIGS. 9A and 9B. The flange nut 18 has a nut 29 combined with aflange-like washer 30 in a singular unitary part or in two parts mountedtogether. A flange nut 18 allows an installation contractor to easilyinstall one piece with the nut exposing threads on the backside whenadequate spinning of the nut was complete. This allows an easy way foran inspector to confirm a secure connection is complete.

The objective of reinforcement connection to the back of a concretepanel 14 for all MSE retaining wall systems is to get the higheststrength possible in the connection and as close to the full capacity ofthe reinforcement, as possible. An anti-shear collar 19, as shown inFIGS. 10A and 10B, preferably of steel and welded to the rod 1, is usedto prevent shear of the connection to limit the effectiveness of theconnection. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the anti-shear collar 19 isplaced where the connection would typically fail in shear. An shown, thecollar 19 has an internal channel 20 through which the end region of therod 1 passes. The channel 20 is curved so that the curved part of therod 1 is accommodated. The collar 19 also has an external radiusedchannel 21 that is designed to receive and rest contiguously against apart of the connector loop 17, as illustrated in FIG. 11. With thisconfiguration, the collar 19 effectively thickens up the steel diameterright where the shear would occur, which forces the shear to not occur.Since steel in shear is approximately half the capacity of steel intension, shear should be avoided or compensated to force the steelconnection into tension with the full tensile capacity of thereinforcement as the weak link. The anti-shear collar 19 has shown infull scale connection tests to make the connection stronger than thereinforcement rod in tension, which results in a connection that isgenerally 100% of the reinforcement tensile capacity, or generally 100%effective.

The earth reinforcement rod 1 can be connected to the connector loop 17in ways other than as previously described in connection with thepreferred embodiment with the flange nut 18 in combination with theanti-shear collar 19. For example, a threaded insert cast into the rearof the concrete panel to allow a threaded rod end of the rod 1 to bescrewed in the back of the panel creating a connection of the round rodto the concrete panel.

As another example embodiment, a double loop of steel rod extending outthe back of the concrete panel can be cast into the rear of the concretepanel, which allows a reinforcement rod 1 with a welded perpendicularpiece of rod forming a “T” shape to be inserted into and behind thedouble loop, thereby connecting the reinforcement rod 1 to the back ofthe panel.

As another example embodiment, the rod 1, in a straight or bentconfiguration, can be welded to the connector loop 17.

As another example embodiment, the rod 1, in bent and threadedconfiguration, can be attached to the connector loop 17 using twoopposing flange nuts 18 on opposing sides of the connector loop 17(i.e., in a sandwich-like configuration).

As another example embodiment, the rod 1, in the bent and threadedconfiguration, could be provided with a metal stop or barrier of somesort that is welded to or otherwise attached to the rod 1 in or near thethreads. The flange nut 18 can then be used to bind and secure theconnector loop 17 along the rod 1 against the stop or barrier.

Top of Panel Geometry/Illimination of Separate Coping Unit

In an attempt to not require a conventional coping unit, unsightlyjoints, and exposed lifting inserts, the present disclosure provides abetter top of wall condition, as shown in FIG. 12, leaving the precastvisible top of the wall 2 to be rectangular with a flat finish insection, creating an aesthetically pleasing top of wall 2.

FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of an edging inset 22 in a toppanel 14 of the MSE retaining wall 2 of FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a frontelevation view of the edging inset 22 in a top panel of the MSEretaining wall 2 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15A is a front elevation view of a first embodiment T1 of the toppanel of the MSE retaining wall 2 of FIG. 12. FIG. 15B is a frontelevation view of a second embodiment T2 of the top panel of the MSEretaining wall 2 of FIG. 12. FIG. 15C is a front elevation view of athird embodiment T3 of the top panel of the MSE retaining wall 2 of FIG.12.

Most, if not all, of the current MSE retaining wall suppliers on themarket use a similar separate coping unit 23 shown in FIGS. 16A-16C tohide the unsightly vertical and horizontal joints and lifting insertsthat are located on the top of the MSE concrete panels 14.

The top panel 14 of the present disclosure removes not only theunsightly lap or tongue and groove joint at the top or uneven surface,but also eliminates the lifting inserts. As shown in the prior art wallembodiment of FIG. 15, the lifting inserts 24 and unsightly joinery 25or steps 26 and uneven height panels currently being used in the marketrequire a separate concrete “U” shaped coping unit 23.

Again, the inventor realized that there was a way to provide a clear andprecise rectangular finished top that both pleases aesthetically, butalso serves the function of topping out the retaining wall. Also, thetop panel cast produces the concrete panels 14 at the exact slopegeometry 27 to follow roadway grade behind the wall. In order to removethe required lifting inserts from the top side of the panel 24, aspecialized lifting tool 28 shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B is utilized topick up and move the concrete panels 14.

The lifting tool 28 allows the concrete panel 14 to be hoisted and heldvertical, but also avoids the unsightly lifting inserts 24 (FIG. 16B) atthe top of the uppermost, or top, panel 14. The separate lifting tool 28facilitates this clean top concrete panel system that is trulyinnovative to the current MSE market with no known predecessors havinganything similar. The lifting tool 28 and how it creates a center ofgravity allowing the concrete panel 14 being hoisted into place toremain vertical while being inserted or placed adjacent to otherconcrete panels 14. Also, the lifting tool 28 hooks onto the steellifting loops 31 cast into the back of the concrete panel 14. Thelifting tool 28 can easily be inserted by the contractor using a craneby sliding the lifting tool 28 from the bottom to the top of theconcrete panel 14 when lying flat thereby engaging the lifting loops 31with the tool 28. This process allows an equipment operator to pick up aconcrete panel 14 stacked and laying face down without a separate personmaking the attachments physically to the concrete panel 14, as iscustomary using the conventional lifting inserts 24.

MSE Geosynthetic Loop

Steel reinforcement is not preferred or allowed when using highresistivity backfill soils 15 or high corrosion environments that existon project sites, like near the saltwater coast or roadways that havede-icing salt spread during winter. Geosynthetic reinforcement usinggeosynthetic strips 32 is preferred and used to create the MSE retainingwall 2, as illustrated in FIG. 5B. In the market today, there existsseveral means of connecting flexible geosynthetic strips to the backside of an MSE concrete panel 14.

FIGS. 18-21 show several proprietary connections that exist in themarket today. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a first prior artembodiment of a geosynthetic loop connection, which is used instead ofbars/ladder (FIGS. 6-8) in some embodiments of prior art MSE retainingwalls. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a second prior art embodiment ofa geosynthetic loop connection, which is used instead of bars/ladder(FIGS. 6-8) in some embodiments of prior art MSE retaining walls. FIG.20 is a perspective view of a third prior art embodiment of ageosynthetic loop connection, which is used instead of bars/ladders(FIGS. 6-8) in some embodiments of prior art MSE retaining walls. FIG.21 is a perspective view of a fourth prior art embodiment of ageosynthetic loop connection, which is used instead of bars/ladder(FIGS. 6-8) in some embodiments of prior art MSE retaining walls.

All of the foregoing prior art embodiments of a geosynthetic loopconnection in FIGS. 18-21 incorporate a plastic box or sleeve used forinsertion during concrete panel casting, or creation. While all of theforegoing prior art embodiments of the geosynthetic loop connection areeffective and work well, the cost can be high for the separate plasticbox or sleeve, being specifically made for the purpose of creating avoid and providing an opening for a loop connection using a geosyntheticstrip. The overriding requirements of a geosynthetic strip 32 used inMSE applications is to not allow any steel component to be exposed tothe aggressive or corrosive backfill behind the concrete panel.Therefore, any steel used in the connection process must be covered orprotected by a nonmetallic chemically resistance material, typicallyplastic. Also, an acceptable void must be created to loop thegeosynthetic material around a bar or other piece of strong material toobtain an adequate mechanical connection.

FIG. 22 is a perspective rear view (without earth soil) of a panel 14with a first embodiment of a geosynthetic loop connection of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 23A is a cross-sectional view of the first embodimentof the geosynthetic loop connection of FIG. 22. FIG. 23B is a top viewof the first embodiment of FIG. 22.

With reference to FIGS. 22, 23A, and 23B, the MSE geosynthetic loop ofthe present disclosure uses a rubber reusable concrete blockout, to holda piece of non-corrosive plastic (polymer) pipe 33, for example, a PVCpipe, surrounding a piece of rebar 34. The PVC pipe 33 is embedded pastthe rubber insert in the concrete adequately to meet industry standardsto avoid contact with the backfill soil 15 or to have the rebar placedwithin the PVC pipe 33, protected from corrosion. The PVC pipe 33 ispreferably 7 inches in length, an outside diameter (OD) of 1¼ inches,and an inside diameter (ID) of ⅞ inches. Further, in the preferredembodiment, the PVC pipe extends into the concrete at both ends at least2 inches to ensure that the contained rebar is completely sealed in theconcrete. During the concrete panel casting, the PVC pipe 33 istemporarily held by the rubber insert until the concrete is hardened andready to be removed from the concrete panel mold. Then, the rubberinsert is pried loose and removed leaving a void for the geosyntheticstrip 32 to be installed in the field around the rebar 34 encapsulatedby the PVC pipe 33 without the use of a plastic box or sleeve.

The MSE geosynthetic loop connection of the present disclosure providesan economical and easy method to produce the concrete panel 14 with amechanism for installing the geosynthetic strip 32 in the field. Thegeosynthetic strip 32 can be any suitable material, but is typically andpreferably a polyester that is encased in high-density polyethylene(HDPE). A typical width of the strip 32 is 2 inches. This MSEgeosynthetic loop connection is a particular and unique combination of aPVC pipe 33 for protection of the steel (readily available andinexpensive), and a rubber insert to create a void (rubber can be castto various configurations so the ideal geosynthetic strip wrap geometrycan be achieved). A common concrete rebar 34 is placed inside the PVCpipe 33 during the concrete panel casting that provides the strength ofthe connection. The rebar extends well beyond the ends of the PVC pipe33. All three components, when used in this configuration and method wasthe result of numerous trial connections, research, and tensile testingto find the best performing and economical process to connect thegeosynthetic strip to the back of a concrete panel 14.

Going a step further, sometimes, an MSE geosynthetic strip loop cannotbe achieved in the field, and a single geosynthetic strip end must besecured to the back of a concrete panel 14. Many methods have beenpresented in the industry using separate clamps and fasteners. However,tools needed to complete the connection with fasteners or clamps can becumbersome in the field and technically difficult to verify by theinspector that the connection is complete. Looking for asimple-to-install, single strip connection mechanism that is easy toinspect is a big challenge. After much research, trials, and evaluationusing full scale tensile tests by the inventor, a unique, effective,economical, and inspectable connection was realized.

FIG. 24A is a cross-sectional view of a panel with a second embodimentof a geosynthetic loop connection provided by the present disclosure tosecure a single geosynthetic end to a panel 14. FIG. 24B is a top viewof the second embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, a double compression loop arrangement canbe used with the geosynthetic strip 32. The first looping part of thedouble compression loop arrangement is formed by the PVC pipe 33 (firstcylindrical body) that houses the rebar 34. A second cylindrical body,hollow or solid, is used to form the second looping part of the doublecompression loop arrangement. This second cylindrical body can be madefrom a variety of materials, for example but not limited to, steel,hardwood (e.g., oak), concrete, etc., provided that the secondcylindrical body has sufficient strength to remain rigid and intactunder the extreme pressure condition. In the preferred embodiment, thesecond cylindrical body is a piece of solid plastic PVC rod, for examplebut preferably, approximately 2½″ long and 1¼ inches in outsidediameter. The second solid plastic rod fits loosely into the cavity ofthe panel 14, until the strip 32 is installed, after which the secondsolid plastic rod is bound within the double compression looparrangement. So, the path of installation of the geosynthetic strip 32is as follows, as the strip 32 is inserted and installed. Referring toFIG. 24A, the strip 32 extends into the cavity past the underside ofpipe 35, then clockwise around the pipe 33, then clockwise around pipe35, then counterclockwise around pipe 33 (and thereby being bound undera part of the strip 32 already around pipe 33) and then past theunderside of solid rod 35 (and thereby being bound under a part of thestrip 32 already around solid rod 35). The end of the cavity in thepanel 14 is U-shaped from a side view vantage point of the panel, inorder to permit easy passage of the strip around the plastic pipe duringinstallation of the strip. The forgoing double loop compressionarrangement binds the strip 32, thereby effectively attaching the strip32 to the panel 14.

Testing confirmed that 100% of the geosynthetic strip could be achievedwith this connection. Also, the free end 36 of the geosynthetic strip 32exposed assured enough geosynthetic strip 32 was in the connectionallowing inspectors to quickly observe the connection was complete.

Finally, many modifications and other embodiments disclosed herein willcome to mind to one skilled in the art to which the disclosedcompositions and methods pertain having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosures are not to belimited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications andother embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims. The skilled artisan will recognize many variants andadaptations of the aspects described herein. These variants andadaptations are intended to be included in the teachings of thisdisclosure and to be encompassed by the claims herein.

At least the following is claimed:
 1. A mechanically stabilized earth(MSE) retaining wall, comprising: at least one concrete panel, the panelhaving a generally planar body with a frontside, a backside, and asurrounding peripheral edge; at least one round, steel rod, the rodhaving a generally cylindrical elongated body with first and secondends, the first end attached to the panel, the elongated body and secondend residing within backfill soil; and at least one steel, pulloutinhibiting structure residing along the elongated body of the rod, thepullout inhibiting structure having a body with a surface region thatspans in a transverse radial direction from the elongated body of therod, the rod passing through the body of the pullout inhibitingstructure.
 2. The wall of claim 1, wherein the steel rod comprises aplurality of raised ribs along its elongated body.
 3. The wall of claim2, wherein the steel rod is rebar.
 4. The wall of claim 1, whereinpullout inhibiting structure is a disk having a generally planar bodywith a frontside, a backside, and a surrounding circular peripheraledge.
 5. The wall of claim 4, wherein the body of the disk has an insidediameter of between 0.5 inches and 0.75 inches.
 6. The wall of claim 4,further comprising a plurality of disks and wherein the body of eachdisk has an outside diameter of 1.375 inches, the body of the rod has adiameter of 0.5 inches, and the disks are spaced apart by between 8 and24 inches.
 7. The wall of claim 1, wherein the disk is a steel washerthat is welded to the steel rod.
 8. The wall of claim 1, wherein: therod is curved near the first end; the first end having bolt threads; therod passes through a steel connector loop extending from the backside ofthe panel; and a nut on the bolt threads attaches the steel rod toconnector loop, thereby attaching the steel rod to the panel.
 9. Thewall of claim 8, wherein the connector loop has first and secondopposing hole sides and further comprising a washer situated between thenut and the first hole side of the connector loop and an anti-shearcollar attached to the rod and situated against the second opposing holeside of the connector loop, and wherein the combination of the nut, thewasher, the connector loop, and the anti-shear collar secures the rod tothe panel.
 10. The wall of claim 8, wherein the connector loop has firstand second opposing hole sides, wherein the nut is part of a flange nut,the flange nut also having a radial flange, wherein the flange of theflange nut is situated against the first hole side of the connectorloop, wherein an anti-shear collar is attached to the rod and situatedagainst the second opposing hole side of the connector loop, and whereinthe combination of the flange nut, the connector loop, and theanti-shear collar secures the rod to the panel.
 11. The wall of claim 1,wherein the pullout inhibiting structure has a planar body with afrontside, a backside, and a surrounding peripheral edge.
 12. Amechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall, comprising: aplurality of concrete panels, each panel having a generally planar bodywith a frontside, a backside, and a surrounding peripheral edge; aplurality of generally round steel rods, each rod having a generallycylindrical elongated body with first and second ends, each rod beingcurved near the first end and extending through a steel connector loopextending from the back side of the panel, the first end being securedto the connector loop by a nut that is threaded on the first end, theelongated body and second end residing within backfill soil; and atleast one steel, generally planar, pullout inhibiting structure residingalong the elongated body of the rod, the disk having a generally planarbody with a frontside, a backside, and a surrounding peripheral edge,the rod passing through a central part of the body of the planarstructure.
 13. The wall of claim 12, wherein the connector loop hasfirst and second opposing hole sides and further comprising a washersituated between the nut and the first hole side of the connector loopand an anti-shear collar attached to the rod and situated against thesecond opposing hole side of the connector loop, and wherein thecombination of the nut, the washer, the connector loop, and theanti-shear collar secures the rod to the panel.
 14. The wall of claim12, wherein the connector loop has first and second opposing hole sides,wherein the nut is part of a flange nut, the flange nut also having aradial flange, wherein the flange of the flange nut is situated againstthe first hole side of the connector loop, wherein an anti-shear collaris attached to the rod and situated against the second opposing holeside of the connector loop, and wherein the combination of the flangenut, the connector loop, and the anti-shear collar secures the rod tothe panel.
 15. The wall of claim 12, wherein the steel rod comprises aplurality of raised ribs along its elongated body.
 16. The wall of claim12, wherein the steel rod is rebar.
 17. The wall of claim 12, whereinthe pullout inhibiting structure is a disk having a circular peripheraledge.
 18. The wall of claim 17, wherein the disk is a steel washer thatis welded to the steel rod.
 19. The wall of claim 17, wherein the bodyof the disk has an inside diameter of between 0.5 inches and 0.75inches.
 20. The wall of claim 12, wherein the pullout inhibitingstructure is a disk and wherein the body of each disk has an outsidediameter of 1.375 inches, the body of the rod has an outside diameter of0.5 inches, and the disks are spaced apart between 8 and 24 inches.